It has been an underwhelming start to the AHL season for Thorpe-do, with only one assist through 14 games. While there was certainly no expectation on Thorpe to produce offensively, he will need to show signs of progress on the offensive front through the 2025-26 AHL season to maintain his projection of an impactful bottom-six forward in the NHL. There is little chance Thorpe gets called up to the Habs this season, and will need to have an impressive camp in 2026-27 to be considered for cups of coffee in the NHL next season.

The Thorpe-do made it to the AHL for one game at the end of the 2024-25 season, putting up two assists in the contest. Do not expect Thorpe to continue at such a rate, as he only put about 0.82 points per game in his last two WHL seasons. He did however impose his size physicality more on opponents in his D+2 season and doubled his PIMs year over year, which is what the Canadians drafted him for: to be a staple on their fourth line, wearing players down alongside Unicorn Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch. Seeing as the Canadians made the NHL playoffs, a big grinder like Thorpe will be a nice fit come playoff time and there is a chance we see him on the Habs opening night roster on the fourth line, however he would benefit from seasoning at the AHL level before a full time gig in the NHL so he can have a consistent impact once there. Ioan Gheordanescu

Despite being on a prospect team with several first-round picks, Tyler Thorpe was the highlight of the Canadiens’ prospect tournament. His two goals led the team, and he showed significant growth from last season. He looked faster, stronger, more intense, and, of course, big. After an explosion from his D0 to his D+1, we will see if Thorpe truly takes off in his D+2 with the Vancouver Giants.

An August 2005 birthday, Tyler Thorpe is barely an overage prospect, and the Montreal Canadiens opted to take a swing on his physical upside in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Thorpe’s frame, of 6-5, and 212 pounds immediately makes him an exciting prospect for the team’s future bottom-six. His growing production in the WHL gives optimism on his potential offensive development, going from a six-point rookie year to a 44-point sophomore campaign. Thorpe has a high-end and pro-ready shot, but will need to work on his pacing and skating to fulfill his NHL potential. His frame alone will give him chances many other prospects wouldn’t get, but he will likely finish off the maximum time in junior before making the jump to the pros.